The Rundown: Week 7

Oct 18, 2019

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We are in Week 7 and like Kevin McAllister says, "This is it. Don't get scared now." The fantasy regular season is getting close to trade deadlines and playoff stretch runs so these games are pivotal to set up teams for success. That means mining the waiver wires more closely and paying extra attention to matchups as bye weeks ravage the depths of fantasy teams. As always, the Thursday preview along with stats to know is already available and this will focus on the rest of the slate including start/sit recommendations.

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Fantasy Rating Key

(5) - Elite option. Must start.
(4) - Strong option. Likely start.
(3) - Good option. Low-end starter to high-end backup.
(2) - Weak option. Possible flex or desperation play.
(1) - Bad option. Bench in nearly all cases.
(0) - Not an option. Injured, bench, or waivers.

Raiders @ Packers

Spread: Packers -5.5 | Total: 47

The battle of the depleted wide receiver depth charts is here! The Raiders may not have Tyrell Williams and depth was already an issue after the Antonio Brown fiasco this summer (year?). Ideally, the Raiders would keep this on the ground with their rookie running back and top 10 rushing attack but it could prove difficult. Aaron Rodgers is awaiting the statuses of Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Geronimo Allison, and Jimmy Graham for this week. They represent 58% of Rodgers’ 2019 pass targets and leave Marcedes Lewis as the top producing option among the receiving group. This will be a test of both teams and may represent a dynasty fantasy player’s delight more than a redraft player.

Oakland Raiders

Darren Waller, fresh off a new contract extension, will need to be heavily featured in this contest. Otherwise, expect a lot of check downs from Derek Carr to players like Hunter Renfrow and Jalen Richard. Josh Jacobs is a near-lock for 20 touches in some form with a good chance at a touchdown or two.

Team Trends That Matter

Rank 27th in the league at a 27.63-second pace between plays when trailing by seven or more points.
Third worst rate of touchdowns allowed at 30.6% of defensive drives.
Five different wide receivers have seen 50% or greater snap share in a game this season.

Fantasy Rating and a Stat to Know

QB Derek Carr (2) - Has yet to throw 40 times in a game this season
RB Josh Jacobs (4) - Four of five games with 99 or more total yards
WR Hunter Renfrow (2) - Hasn’t exceeded 30 receiving yards in a game
WR Trevor Davis (1) - Four of six receiving touchdowns allowed by the Packers has come from a wide receiver
TE Darren Waller (4) - Saw season lows in snap share (78%) and targets (five) in Week 5

Green Bay Packers

Aaron Jones and, to a lesser extent, Jamaal Williams will be the primary beneficiaries of a ravaged receiving group. Aaron Rodgers will need them in every facet to keep the Packers moving on offense. Allen Lazard also seems to have Rodgers’ trust so he will have a good role this week as well.

Team Trends That Matter

Have allowed at least one rushing touchdown in each of the past five games.
14 of 16 offensive touchdowns have occurred inside the red zone.
Jamaal Williams out-snapped Aaron Jones for the second time in the past four games.

Fantasy Rating and a Stat to Know

QB Aaron Rodgers (3) - Averaging his lowest rushing yards per game (10.3) since he became a starter
RB Aaron Jones (4) - Has accounted for all eight rushing touchdowns this season
RB Jamaal Williams (2) - Double digit PPR points in three of his last four games played
WR Allen Lazard (2) - Averaged nearly one point per snap in Week 6 with 16.5 PPR points in 17 snaps
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (2) - Raiders have allowed a 15 PPR point wide receiver in four of five games this year. Questionable to play
TE Jimmy Graham (3) - Travis Kelce is the only tight end to score over 13 PPR points against the Raiders